We don't mean to make your 2024 gaming calendar a bit lighter, but there's little that can be done. Some of the biggest games we were looking forward to playing this year are now sliding into 2025. Bummer, we know.
5 Video Games That Will No Longer Be Released in 2024
Let's look at five huge titles that are taking longer on the loading screen.
1. Assassin's Creed: Shadows
Remember that Assassin's Creed game set in Japan everyone was arguing about? If you were away from the news for a while, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, which was supposed to be released in November 2024, got pushed to February 14, 2025.
This 2024 game delay news hits especially hard since Assassin's Creed games usually stick to their release dates. Word is, Ubisoft's watching how other big games are doing and wants to make sure Shadows launches at just the right time. Hopefully, it's worth the wait and a good Valentine's gift, too.
2. Avowed
Xbox fans were pumped to play Avowed this fall, but that's not happening anymore. This big fantasy RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (you know, the folks behind some really good role-playing games) is now coming out on February 18, 2025. Why? The end of 2024 is packed with other huge games coming to Game Pass, and Xbox wants Avowed to have its moment to shine. It's one of the bigger upcoming game releases 2025 has in store.
3. Little Nightmares III
Little Nightmares III is taking a rain check on scaring us in 2024. The developers want more time to make sure this spooky adventure lives up to the series' reputation, so they're pushing it into 2025. No exact date yet, but when it does come out, you'll be able to team up with a friend online to face the creepy stuff together, which is pretty new for the series. So, more nightmares to come (just not this year).
4. Football Manager 25
Football Manager 25 was supposed to hit the pitch this November, but now we're looking at March 2025. This delayed video games entry is actually pretty special. It's the first time the series is using a whole new game engine, plus they're finally adding women's football. The developers want to make sure everything's running smoothly before kickoff, hence the extra time (winks). Keep an eye out for some gameplay footage in January if you're curious about what's new.
5. The Alters
The Alters looked set to wrap up 2024 with some cool sci-fi survival action, but plans have changed. The team at 11 Bit Studios (you might know them from Frostpunk) decided to move it to early 2025. They want to make sure all the survival and base-building stuff works great whether you're playing on PC or console. It's another one for the growing list of games delayed this year.
Wrapping Up
Sure, waiting longer for games isn't fun, but there's usually a silver lining. As you probably know, more development time usually means better games in the end. After all, nobody wants to play a rushed game that isn't ready. Plus, 2025's looking pretty stacked with all these delayed video games.
For now, maybe it's time to touch that gaming backlog you've been avoiding. Or hey, you could check out some other cool games that are actually sticking to their 2024 release dates. Either way, these five will be worth the wait when they finally drop next year. At least, we hope.